EHG5920 - Watching brief - additional storage clamps, Tornagrain Gas Mill

An archaeological controlled topsoil strip was undertaken by Highland Archaeology Services in 2022 during the development of additional storage clamps at Tornagrain Gas Mill. Fieldwork was undertaken between 7th June and 9th August 2022. A single trench measuring 9168.5m² was excavated down to the natural subsoil. Topsoil varied in depth on site from 200mm to 1500mm and comprised a dark brown sandy silt topsoil with inclusions of small stones. Conditions were largely dry, sunny, and very windy leading to the sand being very dusty. During the controlled topsoil strip seven possible archaeological features and material were revealed. These comprised of one burnt spread, one possible cooking pit, three post holes and two possible pits of unknown function. One of the post holes was likely to have been associated with the possible cooking pit. Several modern fence posts and some modern clearance were also noted. <1> Limited post-excavation work including the analysis of material from the possible cooking pit and one of the post holes was subsequently undertaken. The post hole recorded gave an Iron Age date. This was unsurprising as works undertaken in 2016 to the north of the development uncovered Iron Age Activity, this was likely to be a continuation of that. More surprisingly the possible cooking pit, provided a Mesolithic date indicating that there was activity in this area from early in prehistory. <2>